Israeli report suggests Egypt could reassess peace treaty with Israel

An Israeli news platform has reported that Egypt is moving towards reviewing and amending the peace treaty signed with Israel in 1979, amid fast-changing geopolitical developments in the region.

The the Hebrew news website Natsiv Net said the move comes as reports suggest a possible visit by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to Washington. However, informed sources have currently denied that the Egyptian president plans to meet the Israeli prime minister during his time in the US capital.

According to Natsiv, Israeli intelligence reports have monitored the recent deployment of advanced Egyptian air defence systems in Sinai. These reportedly include the Chinese HQ-9B air defence system. The website described this as a “clear violation” of the peace treaty, which places strict limits on Egypt’s military presence in the area.

The platform added that Cairo justifies these steps by citing the need to strengthen its defensive capabilities in northern Sinai and protect its airspace, even if this conflicts with long-standing commitments set out in the agreement.

Natsiv also said that this military build-up is not recent, but has been taking place for years. It claimed that the moves have not faced a real response from the Israeli leadership, nor effective pressure on the US administration to enforce compliance with the treaty.

READ: Netanyahu announces approval of $35bn gas deal with Egypt